Darkest Hour – Undoing Ruin
Author: Alan Wierdak
Hailing from Washington, DC, Darkest Hour, although unmentioned by many when considering the frontline of American heavy metal, it is certain that with their latest effort “Undoing Ruin”, they will no longer go unnoticed. With producer Devin Townsend at the helm of Undoing Ruin, it’s sure to be an album that any metalhead will have a hard time removing from their stereo. Though their blend of thrash and melodic death metal has been heard time and time again, and elitist ears are sure to find some way to call it “metalcore dogshit”, Undoing Ruin is far from it. For the long-term Darkest Hour fans, although the album as a whole is far more melodic, filled with more dual-guitar leads from Kris Norris and Mike Schleibaum than usual. And although the melodic refinement in Darkest Hour’s new and improved sound has removed some of their DC punk-esque sound, there’s still the vintage Darkest Hour sound in “Sound The Surrender”, and select grooves throughout the album. Yet, Darkest Hour’s sound is much more drawn-out and structured than its ever been, focusing more on the melodic grooves,
and leads, than it does with their ‘thrash the night away’ sound from their previous 4 albums. Nevertheless, Undoing Ruin is clearly THE Darkest Hour album that defines their sound. Undoing Ruin is as technical as it is rockin’, with a great balance of the leads that many felt were lacking in 2003’s
“Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation”, and that thrash-rock sound that seasoned Darkest Hour listeners have been infatuated with since “The Prophecy Fulfilled”, and “Mark of The Judas”. John Henry’s vocals are equally as raspy as they’ve been, except for in “Convalescence” where throughout the chorus, his vocals are about as clean as Mexican water. Norris and Schleibaum truly shred, and shine more than they ever have, and Ryan Parrish is simply outstanding behind the kit. Undoing Ruin is 11 tracks and nearly 40 minutes of Darkest Hour history; what they were, what they are, and exactly what they’re going to be, a solid heavy metal band. It’s not “Arise”, “And Justice For All”, “Slaughter Of The Soul”, or “Hell Awaits”, but Undoing Ruin is capable of setting the current standard for what a metal masterpiece truly is.
Rating: 9/10
Website: http://www.darkesthour.cc
Label: Victory Records
(+5 rating, 1 votes)
